Health secretary quashes local objections to back maternity plans

Health secretary Patricia Hewitt has quashed the objections of an overview and scrutiny committee and upheld local NHS proposals on maternity services on the advice of the independent reconfiguration panel.

Health secretary Patricia Hewitt has quashed the objections of an overview and scrutiny committee and upheld local NHS proposals on maternity services on the advice of the independent reconfiguration panel.

Ms Hewitt asked the panel to advise her on the proposals for Calderdale and Huddersfield after they were referred to her by a joint committee of local councillors.

The IRP was set up in 2003 to provide advice to the health secretary on contested proposals for health service change in England. This was only the second referral, the first being in 2003 about changes proposed in East Kent.

Calderdale, Huddersfield Central and South Huddersfield primary care trusts had proposed a reconfiguration of health services in the area after a four-month consultation.

This included proposals for a review of maternity services provided by Calderdale and Huddersfield foundation trust, which would see an obstetric service and a midwife-led unit based at Calderdale Royal Hospital; a standalone midwife-led maternity unit at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary; and increased provision of community midwifery.

There are currently consultant-led maternity units at both hospitals.

In January 2006, a joint OSC of Calderdale and Kirklees councils objected to the proposals for maternity services. It wanted the trust to maintain services on both sites.

The committee said there were 'compelling social implications' of the proposed model for maternity services which were 'not in the best interest of the local population'.

Despite the concerns, the PCTs approved their original proposals in March and the scrutiny committee referred the matter to Ms Hewitt.

The IRP concluded that the proposals set out by the local NHS 'represent the most appropriate way to deliver safe and sustainable maternity services in the long term'.

It acknowledged that the loss of a consultant-led maternity service from Huddersfield would be a concern to local people, but upheld the choice of Calderdale on the grounds of safety since it had already been agreed that paediatrics would be centred there.

IRP chair Dr Peter Barrett said in the report: 'There was also an attitude expressed [by the community] that there should be the widest range of services in every community. Modern medicine cannot safely operate like this.'

Joint OSC chair Peter Coles said: 'I was pleased [the IRP] applauded our efforts, but it seems a bit unfortunate to set up an organisation to sound out a community then almost disregard it.'

Mike Potts, chief executive of the newly reconfigured Kirklees PCT, said that following the decision: 'We can move ahead with our plans to provide excellent healthcare services in the community and safe, specialist care in our hospitals'.

Financial penalties are being lifted from high-profile standards including cancer and elective waiting times, so far without attracting much attention. How is this happening? And will it work, asks Rob Findlay